LARGE TELESCOPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 12

LARGE TELESCOPE

WORK OF AMATEUR MANUFACTURE IN AUCKLAND i INTEREST IN ASTRONOMY Very few mon could got as much personal enjoyment out of a hobby and give as much enjoyment to others as does Mr. A. R. Martin, of 161 Garnet Road, Westmero. Mr. Martin js employed by the Post and Telegraph Department, but in his spare time lie is an amateur astronomer and, with tlie enthusiastic spirit of the true amateur, he believes in making most of his instruments for himself. Situated in Mr. Martin's front parden is a large telescope, placed with mathematical exactitude according to surveyor's measurements. Some of the parts lie naturally had to purchase ready-made, but others are of his own contriving. For instance, tho revolving apparatus 011 tho mounting consists of the wheels and back axlo of an old Ford car, and the instrument incorporates other equally ingenious devices, so expertly employed that Mr. Martin is able to pursue his hobby with perfect results. Making of Lenses Even the lenses in tho large telescope are made by the amateur astronomer in his spare time and he is at present engaged on tho manufacture of a 12] in. lens. Tho shaping of a concave surface on a large disc, of thick glass is tho work of weeks and an exact process is required in order that a clear image may be obtained from the finished lens. When the glass is finally shaped the surface is covered with aluminium by a process which is employed in tho scionco department at Auckland University College. Tours of the Heavens Mr. Martin admits that he has been interested in astronomy and optical matters practically sitico he was a child, but his real interest in tho manufacture of large telescopes dates back only two or three years. Since then he has constructed several telescopes sufficiently largo for astronomical observations and on practically every fine night 110 has a small crowd of interested visitors in his front garden, while ho takes them for "personally-con-ducted tours" of the heavens. Many of his visitors have been boys who have since developed a keen interest in the science. Mr. Martin does not make any great claims for his achievements, but it is a fact that there are not many large telescopes in New Zealand of the type that he has built for himself. The majority of the large instruments, too, were built by professionals, and not by amateurs.